House of Hope women ventured into Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico last year to build a house for a family in need. The work is done through Gateway Missions in El Paso, Texas. With widespread reports of violence, these photos show a far different image.

The Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church’s House of Hope and the Rainbow Trail Day Camp, which is held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, are joining forces to offer the community a Frito pie dinner and an ice cream social from 5:30-7 p.m. July 1 at Trinity on the Hill.

The Frito pie fundraiser will benefit the House of Hope’s house building project in Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico, which will be held Oct. 7-11. The house will be given to a family in need.

Meanwhile, the day camp is hosting the ice cream social.

The whole community is invited to take part in the event. The fee is $8 for adults and $4 for children age 11 and younger. Vacation Bible School children will be admitted for free.

Cathy Walter, a member of the House of Hope, said the community’s support is greatly appreciated.

“It means a lot to know that people support us because some people think we are real crazy to go down there because of the violence,” she said, “but we feel called to do it for various reasons so it reinforces for us that we are doing the right thing when people support us.”

Furthermore, House of Hope has traveled to Juárez for five years and forged a lot of friendships, not just with the new homeowners but also with the building crew and team at Gateway Missions, which manages the construction projects.

“Because there is still a desperate need this year, we want to support Gateway because of all the good they have done,” Walter said. “They have built 200 houses and we’ve built such strong of relationship with the building team.”

She said Gateway and its employees have become family, and, Walter added, ”You don’t want to turn your back on them.”